Take Canadian legal limits off owning/carrying this, and that will reduce the problem.
Posted on 05/15/2006 12:21:15 PM PDT by george76
A black bear chased, caught and mauled a bicycle rider on a mountain trail in Canada's oldest and most popular national park, and was shot and killed when it refused to leave the area, a warden said.
The biker, Greg Flaaten, 41, a Web administrator for the town of Banff, was being treated for severe arm injuries at Foothills Hospital in Calgary following the attack, and reconstructive surgery in the biceps and triceps area was scheduled Monday.
Authorities initially feared Flaaten might lose his arm, but that concern was eased when a key artery was found to be intact, maintaining circulation to the lower part of the arm, said Ian Syme, chief warden for Banff National Park.
A bear evidently ran down and attacked Flaaten on Friday evening along the heavily wooded Hoodoos-Bow River Trail through the park east of the town...
"We heard he had been chased on the bicycle for a while," Syme said. "We're not sure how far that was.
Certainly at the time when you are chased like that, things can seem to be a lot longer than they might be, but apparently he was chased."
Flaaten was found around 8 p.m. after two acquaintances, Robert Earl and Robin Borstmayer, saw his bike and a broken helmet near the trail, then heard him calling for help.
They spotted Flaaten nearby, along with dragging marks and signs of a struggle.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattlepi.nwsource.com ...
One more reason to stay in shape and practice interval sprints.
Sorry and all that the guy was injured, but that's funny no matter who you are.
well it is national bear awareness week.
be aware.
There is a huntin' season; bears hunt humans. No bag or size limit. And always travel with someone slower in a foot race than you.
"Say, I've found a perfect spot to catch us a bear."
"How can you be sure?"
"I saw a sign that said Fine for Hunting."
Never, Ever be the slowest in your party.
I know. To suggest such a thing means I have no brain
Also never be the last one in the group on the trail.
The predators attack the last one.
Bears-Gators in FL. People dying in wrecks with deer. Lots of Hunting needed.
They advise park visitors to wear little bells on their clothes so they make noise when hiking. The bell noise allows bears to hear them coming from a distance and not be startled by a hiker accidentally sneaking up on them.
This might cause a bear to charge.
Visitors should also carry a pepper spray can just in case a bear is encountered. Spraying the pepper into the air will irritate the bear's sensitive nose and it will run away.
It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for fresh bear scat so you have an idea if bears are in the area. People should be able to recognize the difference between black bear and grizzley bear scat.
Black bear droppings are smaller and often contain berries, leaves, and possibly bits of fur.
Grizzley bear droppings tend to contain small bells and smell of pepper.
Uh, ever hear of a dog mauling and even killing a human? How About a cat.....the spotted type.
The only advantge we have is brains, we're not as equipped in a fight as some of thee wild animals. A brain tells you to carry a GUN, now there's an advantage.
The bear will catch you, kill you, and eat you.
Even if you weight more than the bear.
This would be true of a wolf, mountain lion...too.
Just remember to hike with someone slower than yourself.
Then you do not have to out run the bear...just out run your friend.
nope...a monkey half his size would maul and kill you as well
No matter how much you do that, it would not be possible to out-run a bear.
Bells might work to warn a bear.
The bells will not work if the bear is hungry. The bells will just make you an easier meal.
Remember the little brass bells in the bear scat joke ?
"That is how you know that you are in bear country," said the farmer to the city girl.
Sounds like the bears and 'gators have already!
Identifying Bears:
If you see a Bear... climb a tree.
If the bear climbs up the tree and kills you... it's a Black Bear.
If it knocks the tree down and kills you... it's a Grizzly Bear.
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